Play Therapy Podcast Dr. Brenna Hicks

In this episode, I answer a question from Tammy in Canada about a 9-year-old child who is well-behaved in settings like school and sports, but has outbursts, hits parents, swears, and calls names when experiencing big emotions at home. The child then deals with a lot of shame afterwards.
I explain that when a child is dysregulated predominantly at home but regulated everywhere else, it usually means the child treats the people who provide the most unconditional love and acceptance the worst. It's like a pressure cooker - the child holds it together everywhere else but lets it all out at home because they feel safe to fall apart there, knowing their parents will love them anyway.
The key is for parents to use child-centered play therapy strategies at home - reflecting the child's feelings in the moment and setting appropriate limits. The child needs to build emotional vocabulary and self-esteem, which are universal outcomes of CCPT. With psychoeducation and training, parents can learn to sit in the pocket of the feeling with their child rather than trying to talk them out of their emotions.
 
If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you.
Ask Me Questions: Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com
Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com
CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com
Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com
APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com
Twitter: @thekidcounselor https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor
Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast
References:
Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley.
VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press.
Landreth, G. L. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship (2nd ed.). Brunner-Routledge.
Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

In today's episode, I dive into the importance of being attuned and mindful in our play therapy sessions. Today I'm reading from the book A practical handbook for building the play therapy relationship. by Giordano, Landreth and Jones, I discuss how subtle things we do as therapists can inadvertently make a child feel that something is wrong.
From the way we reflect content to the tone and expressions we use, every interaction matters. It's crucial that we align our responses with the child's play and emotions. When we effectively mirror their feelings and validate their experiences, we help them gain a better understanding of themselves.
While we may be using child-centered skills, subtle nuances in delivery can have unintended negative effects. I encourage you to be mindful of your reflections, tone, and expressions in your play therapy sessions. By being genuinely attuned, you create the opportunity for the child to benefit from child-centered play therapy.
Episode Reference:
Giordano, M., Landreth, G., & Jones, L. (2005). A practical handbook for building the play therapy relationship. Jason Aronson.
 
Sign up for my exclusive newsletter at playtherapynow.com. Stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice!
Ask Me Questions: Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com
Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com
CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com
Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com
APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com
Twitter: @thekidcounselor https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor
Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast
Common References:
Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley.
VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press.
Landreth, G. L. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship (2nd ed.). Brunner-Routledge.
Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

In this episode, I address a great question from Carley in Oregon about how to manage germs in the playroom in a child-centered way. Carley asked about a client who licks and spits on his fingers while playing card games, as well as how to handle kids with very runny noses during allergy season.
For the licking and spitting, I explain that this is a behavior the child is choosing, so it warrants setting a limit using the ACT limit-setting process. When it comes to runny noses, I discuss the importance of distinguishing between sickness and allergies. For non-contagious runny noses, I suggest commenting on it matter-of-factly to the child, using an "I wonder" statement, and if needed, providing a clear choice. The key is explaining the "why" - to keep toys clean for other kids.
Also, I share some of my favorite tools for keeping the playroom clean - Micro Ban disinfectant spray, Clorox wipes for quick cleans of hard toys, and a "dirty toy bin" for items that need to be removed and deeply sanitized before returning to the playroom. Staying on top of the mess and germs is an important part of our work!
If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you.
Ask Me Questions: Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com
Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com
CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com
Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com
APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com
Twitter: @thekidcounselor https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor
Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast
References:
Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley.
VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press.
Landreth, G. L. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship (2nd ed.). Brunner-Routledge.
Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

In this episode, I dive into the true essence of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) by sharing powerful excerpts from Garry Landreth's seminal book "Art of The Relationship". Landreth emphasizes that CCPT is not just a set of techniques, but a way of being and a philosophy for living one's life in relationships with children. It requires internalizing a deep belief in children's innate capacity for growth, self-direction, and resiliency.
As I reflect on this, I discuss how the heart of CCPT lies in embodying this philosophy in every interaction, allowing it to transform not just our therapy but our relationships and communication in all areas of life. I caution against getting caught up in skills and knowledge at the expense of the true essence of CCPT - a way of being with children, seeing through their eyes, and patiently understanding their struggles. Ultimately, CCPT is about the healing power of the relationship and unwavering faith in the child's inner wisdom.
References from this episode:
Landreth, G. L. (2023). Play therapy: The art of the relationship (4th ed.). Routledge.
I hope this episode grounds you in the foundations of classical CCPT and inspires you to embrace this way of being.
Sign up for my exclusive newsletter at playtherapynow.com. Stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice!
Ask Me Questions: Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com
Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com
CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com
Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com
APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com
Twitter: @thekidcounselor https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor
Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast
References:
Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley.
VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press.
Landreth, G. L. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship (2nd ed.). Brunner-Routledge.
Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

In this lightning round episode, I tackle three listener questions about child-centered play therapy (CCPT). Cindy from California asked how to respond when parents say kids can learn academics, so why can't they learn coping skills the same way. I explain that academics are formulaic whereas emotions are non-linear, and the therapeutic relationship is key for learning coping, resilience and problem-solving skills.
Melanie from Iowa, who has recently fully committed to CCPT after previously using other approaches, wonders if it's too late for play therapy to be effective with a particular child. I reassure her that it's never too late, though the relationship has to shift when transitioning to true CCPT. Trust and safety need to be re-established, so progress may be slower but not impossible.
Finally, Julia from California asks how to handle kids requesting that the therapist not look at or talk to them during sessions. I discuss potential reasons like power/control, discomfort with reflections, or inability to receive the therapist's responses. I advise still doing our job of verbally engaging, but adjusting pace, volume and frequency to a level the child can manage, while explaining the purpose behind the skills we're using.
If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you.
Ask Me Questions: Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com
Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com
CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com
Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com
APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com
Twitter: @thekidcounselor https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor
Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast
References:
Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley.
VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press.
Landreth, G. L. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship (2nd ed.). Brunner-Routledge.
Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

Today I'm beginning my "Summer School" Series where we are going to go back to the classical texts of child-centered play therapy.
In this episode, I dive into the challenges of truly understanding the meaning behind children's play, and the importance of grounding our work in the original theories and principles of child-centered play therapy. I share some passages from the seminal book "Innovations in Play Therapy" by Garry Landreth that offer valuable insights.
A key takeaway is that we need to be cautious about jumping to label everything a child does as representing a "theme." For something to truly be a theme, it needs to recur multiple times within or across play sessions. Just because a child does something once, like burying a toy, doesn't automatically indicate a "theme of permanence." We have to observe the play over time.
I also discuss how having knowledge of typical child development is critical for play therapists to determine if a child's play is normative or indicates something more significant going on under the surface. Some play is symbolic rather than thematic.
My goal with this episode and series is to help bring us back to the roots and core intentions of the child-centered model. I believe we need to deeply understand the "why" behind what we do as play therapists and not dilute the child-centered model as it gains in popularity. I hope these insights from a leader in the field like Landreth are helpful reminders of what's most important in our work! As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. 
Episode Reference:
Landreth, G. L. (Ed.). (2001). Innovations in play therapy: Issues, process, and special populations. Brunner-Routledge.
Sign up for my exclusive newsletter at playtherapynow.com. Stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice!
Ask Me Questions: Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com
Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com
CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com
Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com
APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com
Twitter: @thekidcounselor https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor
Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast
Common References:
Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G. L. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship (2nd ed.). Brunner-Routledge. Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.